Charles m



(No Model.) I U C. M. FAIRBANKS.

INDEX PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Patented Dec. 5, 1882,

I nua/12'61" h d f m MMI/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES lVI. FAIRBANKS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO ELIAS A.WILKINSON, `OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

INDEX-PLATE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 268,651, datedDecember 5, 1882.

Application ined June 19,1882. (No model.)

the'levers thereof an yindex-plate to indicate the size of needle andthread adapted to the length of stitch when the adjustable fulcrum is inany position desired.

In the t'orm of construction shown the index-plate A has a lengthwiseslot, B, to receive the set-screw C, connected to the adjustable fulcrumD on the vertical lever E, which imparts motion from the main shaft tothe feed that moves the goods in sewing. The index-plate is numbered onone side of the slot, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, at intervals, to indicatethe size ot' needle required when the set-screw C is oppositeanyparticular number. The indexplate is also numbered on the other sideof the slot, 8 to l2, 16 to 24, 30 to 36, 40 to 50, 6() to 7 0, to90,100 to 150, 200 to 300, at intervals, to indicate the size of threadto be used when the set-screw C is opposite any particular numbers.

By moving the set-screw C up or down in the slot B the adjustablefulerum D is moved on the vertical feed-lever E, and consequently themotion ofthe feed s changed, which causes the fabric to be moved at agreater or less distance at each stitch, andthe length of the stitch tobe changed accordingly, which requires a corresponding change on thesizes of the needle and thread, as indicated in the index-plate.

Before my invention indices were not new in connection with aspring-feed to indicate the number of stitches to the inch, and aseparate scale was not new to indicate the size of thread and needleto'be used for the purpose but my improvement is an index-plate combinedwith an adjustable fulcruni or stitch-regulating mechanism, to indicatethe size of needle and thread to be used with the adjustable fulcrum orstitcll-regulating mechanism in any position, as indicated by aset-screw or holding device on the index-plate to hold the adjustablefulcrum or stitch-regulating mechanism in place.

The details of construction and operation may bevaried from that shownand described within the scope of my improvement. For eX- ample, theindex-plate and adjustable fnlcrum may he combined with the horizontalfeed-lever.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in a sewing-machine, of aset-screw, C, connected to an adjustable fulcrum, D, on ayertica-lfeed-lever, E, and au index-plate, A, having numbers l, 2, 85e., toindicate the size of needle, and numbers 8 to 12, Ste., to indicate thesize of thread, adapted to the length of stitch determined by themovement of the feed in any posit-ion of the setscrew and adjustablefulcrum, substantially as set forth. t

2. The combination, in a sewing-machine, of an external holding deviceconnected to an adjustable fulcrum on one of the feed-levers, and f anindex-plate having numbers to indicate the size of needle, and numbersto indicate the size of thread adapted to the feed in any position ofthe holding device and adjustable fulcrum, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my signature in the presenceof two attestin g witnesses.

CHARLES M. FAIRBANKS.

Witnesses:

EMERY B. GHADWICK, 4 OTTO KOCH.

